Iditarod ????

[Dick Smith]

Ak Tribe, did anyone manage to get up to Skwentna, etc. for the first day of the race? Dick

[matsuthunder200]

Re: Iditarod ????

Dick
flew out to the strip at lucys on the yetna and watched a few dog teams go by. Then i flew out to my cabin to drop off some fuel. Was my first flight on skes this year shure was fun.
Some frinds just came back from carabu hunting. They did real well found the carabu by livelock.

[Dick Smith]

Re: Iditarod ????

Lance, we need to start thinking about a flyin...I'm very flexible, so you guys jiggle your calendars as necessary. I may have to go to Nondalton early next week for a few days, but am pretty much available whenever. Jim Hartley was down about a week and a half ago...he is up for it. I think we can get a few more folks together this year. We need to book a date(s) for a cabin if we use the Refuge down here. Dick

[danjirak]

Re: Iditarod ????

I made it to skwenta, well about 8 miles down river at a friends cabin. Made four trips out there with friends. I got the plane on skis, it does okay with the 65 but with a load and powder I would love to have the 85. It wasn't as busy in skwenta as it used to be, the dogs come through after dark with the restart at 2:00 in willow. Thanks for your technical help getting my plane on skis.

[matsuthunder200]

Re: Iditarod ????

Dick
Im not shure but jim ust to work on the weekends mabe ill give him a call and see when his days off are. I am fairly flexable if i have about 4 or 5 days notice.

[Dick Smith]

Re: Iditarod ????

Forrest, this picture from the Iditarod Airforce gives all new meaning to the phrase: "Packin' Heat"!! The mushers use the "Heet" to warm and cook their dogfood on the trail, during the Iditarod Race. The Iditarod Airforce guys fly about 700 cases of "Heet", along with a lot of other stuff, out to the various checkpoints along the 1100 mile route. This link from last year's race shows some good pix of the pilots' activities during the race.

http://www.iditarodairforce.com/2005.htm

Dick

[Jim Hartley]

Re: Iditarod ????

Hey guys,I am planning on taking off from work the last part of March through the first few days of April,I will say the 25TH through April 4TH tentatively. I will say for sure later today.

Jim

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Iditarod ????

Thank you so much Dick , you and the other fellows keep us up on the race each year and I LOVE it . Wish I could be there sometime , to observe, I will check to see if the Lady from near us went up with her team again this year! The only real news down here was the tragic death of one of the dogs early on. God Bless the Alaskan portion of the Taylorcraft Tribe...

[Dick Smith]

Re: Iditarod ????

Forrest, this link is pretty comprehensive:

http://www.cabelasiditarod.com/trail_n.html

I got a kick out of this picture(see this link) http://www.cabelasiditarod.com/cover..._restart9.html

....I wonder if the musher got this idea from working on a real "taildragger"...! Dick

[Dan Mahalak]

Re: Iditarod ????

I can make it then as well most likely. Currently in San Diego finishing the east coast mapping project..should be home in early April.


Dick...check your email...found you a McCauley 1A90 7538..Too rich for my blood.
Dan

[Dick Smith]

Re: Iditarod Picture

Here's a great picture of Jeff King and his team, coming into Unalakleet.

http://www.cabelasiditarod.com/coverage_2006/photos06p12_kaltag12.html

Dick

[N96337]

Re: Iditarod ????

I see Doug Swingley was "nipping at his heels" somewhat... he's a really nice guy...lives not too far from me and is friends with the guy that runs loader for me in the summer. Looked like MT had quite a few mushers up there this year..
JH

[matsuthunder200]

Re: Iditarod ????

Its about that time for planning that ske fly in sometime soon the snow at willow airport is going to be gone faily soon if it stays this warm.
dick, jim, dan, and every one else in Alaska.

[Dick Smith]

Re: Iditarod ????

Lance, you guys pick a date...if we want to use Vogel, we need to inform the refuge office and lock in date/dates. Dick

[Jim Hartley]

Re: Iditarod ????

Hey Guys! From this coming Saturday afternoon until the next Tuesday,I am off from work. I think Scott,along with his experimental (similar to a producer or bushmaster) would like to fly-in as well. It looks like the weather will hold through the week-end,so it might be best if we acted now,unless you guys think we can wait a few days. Like lance said the snow is going fast at Willow airport. Those of us on the lakes have the advantage of a little more time than the guys on the strips. I may be able to juggle for another day off at the end of the week if I know what our plan is by today. In any case I can do a day trip at any time.

Jim